Chapter 2

Well, I'm concerned about whether I'll get a stomachache after this, but let's sort out the situation for now.

After being almost attacked by the Yeti, a seven-colored light was emitted from my arm.

That must be the "mysterious power" the Yeti was talking about.

"Judging from the situation, it's hard to think of anything other than my blessing awakening."

If I absorbed the beast and its abilities and knowledge, then I must have been granted a rather rare blessing, far from being useless.

What bothers me is the fact that I absorbed the Yeti.

It's not good to gloss over it with words like 'absorbed.'

"In other words, I killed it, didn't I..."

I muttered, feeling guilty.

The Yeti shook her head, looking at me with a warm gaze.

— What you did for me was the only salvation I was given. You freed me from that terrible disease.

"... I remember you saying you were suffering from a strange disease."

It was said that the miserable state you were in was due to that disease.

"What kind of disease was it?"

— One day, a mysterious disease began to spread among the beasts living in this underground cave. The beasts infected with the disease were consumed by anger and repeatedly destroyed. That wasn't all. The rotten and decaying bodies were in such pain that they writhed in agony. Their eyes melted, their noses fell off, and they couldn't even swallow water or food. They could only rampage around in a decayed state. ... The disease turned them into monsters both physically and mentally. It was impossible to call that state 'living.'

"..."

It's a terrifying disease, one I've never heard of.

— However, strangely enough, no matter how much the body decayed, the time of death never came. Not only me, but all the beasts infected with the strange disease seemed to have become immortal.

"Immortal..."

— Being bound to a decaying body that only gave pain and unable to die, repeating destruction. You saved me from that hell.

The Yeti smiled as if a burden had been lifted, but I couldn't find the right words to respond.

The intense pain that attacked the decaying body and the continuous suffering from the urge to destroy.

I can't even imagine how painful it must have been.

— Once a creature becomes immortal, it can never regain life. Therefore, the only peace that can be given to the undead is death.

I've heard that there are races somewhere on the continent that use dark magic to create the undead.

My knowledge of the undead was limited to that, but I think what the Yeti said is probably correct.

— You have been in pain for me all this time. How kind you are... However, please don't worry anymore. Although my body has disappeared, as you can see, my soul exists with you.

"Yeti..."

— Ah, but I ended up living in your heart without permission. I'm sorry...

"That's fine. In fact, as someone who likes beasts, being able to talk to you in my head like this is the best situation... Ah, no, sorry. Saying 'best' was insensitive. I'm sorry."

I hurriedly apologized, and the Yeti let out a low, pleasant laugh.

— I have come to like you very much. I think I will be a nuisance to you, but please take care of me, Master.

The Yeti, who had been absorbed into me, was now approaching me with a bright attitude.

I couldn't keep the damp atmosphere forever.

"Ah, likewise."

When I extended my hand, the Yeti showed a movement as if she was gripping it in return.

As a ghost-like existence, the Yeti couldn't touch me.

But strangely, I felt a faint warmth in my palm.

◇◇◇

"Alright, we need to get out of here first."

I looked up at the cliff.

It was a sheer cliff, and it was impossible to climb up with bare hands.

— If I may, I can easily create a path using ice magic. During my immortality, I couldn't use any of my abilities, including ice magic... But I can feel that by absorbing me, not only my soul but also my knowledge and abilities have been incorporated into you. You should be able to use the magic I possessed in life, right?

As the Yeti said, I could feel a cool, powerful energy filling me since I absorbed her.

I could sense that I could use ice magic.

"Let me try. Teach me how to use ice magic."

— Understood. First, extend your hand and imagine ice magic.

"Got it."

I took a deep breath and imagined ice magic.

In response, the cold energy inside my body began to stir.

I felt the Yeti, who had been beside me, suddenly merge into me.

Wrapped in the Yeti's powerful magic, I felt as if we had become one.

Immediately after, a fierce whirlwind of ice was released from my palm.

"... I'm surprised. I can really use ice magic."

It seems that by absorbing the Yeti, I inherited her abilities.

"... If that's the case, the fact that I can talk to the Yeti is also..."

— Yes, it's probably because I shared the knowledge of the beast language I used to know. Now, if you can activate the ice magic, the rest is simple. Please try to control it.

"Alright."

I already knew how to control the ice magic.

"To return to the surface, it would be like this."

I waved my fingers and freely manipulated the ice magic.

The ice magic resonated with a hard sound and transformed into the shape I imagined.

What appeared was a staircase of ice leading to the ground.

"Yeti, your magic is amazing."

I looked up at the shining, transparent staircase.

I've heard that when a regular adventurer uses ice magic, they can only freeze water.

Compared to that, the ice magic of the A-rank beast, the Yeti, is incredibly powerful.

The Yeti said in a calm voice, "It's not my magic. This power is now Master Dio's."

◇◇◇

"Finally made it..."

I panted and sat on the ground.

After climbing the seemingly endless ice staircase, I finally reached the surface.

My legs, which had been climbing for hours, were trembling.

"I did strength training to become a beast tamer, but it wasn't enough at all."

— If only I had flying magic among the spells I possessed... How about using your blessing to absorb a beast with flying abilities?

I think it would be convenient to have flying magic.

But...

"I don't want to absorb beasts unless it's the only way to save them from suffering. ... In fact, it's too pitiful to do to beasts. No, no, no!!"

My overwhelming love for beasts exploded, and I shook my head vigorously.

Even if I use the word 'absorb' to gloss over it, that power still takes the life of the beast.

Seeing me, the Yeti clasped her hands in front of her chest.

— Master...! How kind you are... I am moved.

She looked at me with teary eyes, and I suddenly came to my senses.

I did it again. I always lose myself when it comes to beasts.

Embarrassed, I cleared my throat.

"Being kind is an exaggeration. I just don't want to hurt the things I like."

— No, no, that's not true! We beasts know that to most humans, we are just hunting targets and tools to be used.

"That's..."

As someone who loves beasts, it's a very shameful thing, but it's true what the Yeti said.

For a long time, beasts have been treated terribly by humans.

The magic research institutes in various places continue to use captured beasts for experiments and take their lives, and in the war five years ago, countless beasts were sacrificed as weapons.

All of this is legal.

In this country, and probably in most countries in the world, there are no laws to protect beasts.

After the war, a beast protection organization was established, but it has only just begun to work to improve the environment for beasts.

— Master, what will you do from now on? Or rather, why did you descend into that abyss from the surface in the first place?

"Ah... To be honest—..."

When I revealed that I was expelled from my home and almost killed by my stepbrother, the Yeti was indignant.

— The stepbrother who tried to take your life and the stepfather who expelled you for no reason should be punished!

"Being almost killed by family is embarrassing, isn't it?"

— What are you saying? The one who should be ashamed is your stepbrother! If I may, I think I should freeze the stepbrother who pushed you off the cliff.

The Yeti said something dangerous very seriously.

I responded with a wry smile.

I think I can remain calm about my stepfather and stepbrother because the Yeti is angry on my behalf.

"Still, those two need to be dealt with somehow."

If I return home, I will definitely face my stepfather and stepbrother.

If they find out that the person they tried to kill has survived, they might come after me with all their might this time.

Considering the possibility of having to defend myself, I need to understand my blessing thoroughly.

To do that, I need to have my blessing re-evaluated by a proper priest, not the one who was bribed by my stepbrother and gave me a fake result.

"Alright, let's head to the temple first."

◇◇◇

The Accalard Temple, where I was given the fake evaluation, is located in the forest north of the town of Daphord where I grew up.

Part of the temple is always open, so I went inside.

It was still early, so there was no one else around.

A priest appeared to add oil to the altar fire.

I thought I would ask this person for a re-evaluation.

As I approached—

"Huh? That's—"

"Ah, you're...!?"

It was the priest who was bribed by my stepbrother.

"Second son of the Bryce family!? What are you doing here...!?"

The priest shouted in a very agitated voice.

I looked down at the priest with a cold gaze.

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